St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-15
HAREM BEAUTIES.
rhe Romantic Adventure of An
English Diplomat i'm Turkey.
The Old Bcy Trusted i'm an English
mans Honor--Girls OF Sixteen.

of Constantinople, | was acting private
secretary To the great "llchee," Lord
Strattord de Radcliffe, then Sir Strattord
Canning.
The British consul at - had laid be-
fore the ambassador complaints against
the pasha of the district where he re-
sided. and the latter had also brought
under the notice of the porte grievances
of serious character, alleged to have
been suffered from the proceedings of
the consul. Attempts were made 10y the
porte and the ambassador to bring about
q settlement of the differences, without
success. British subjects. lonianS and
Turks, whose interests were affected by
this state of affairs appealed to the en-
baSsy and to the porte, urging that steps
should be taken to secure the ends of
justice.
Sir :. Canning proposed to the porte
that an officer of the embassy should be
sent to to make an inquiry into the
conduct of the two functionaries, and
that he should be empowered both by
the porte and the ambassador to bring
ahaut settlement of these differences
which had been IA constant source OF
yeXations correspondence. Sir STRAIT
ford selected me for this duty. and de-
livered to me letters from the porte to
the pasha. and from himself to the con-
sui, acQuainting them respectively that
had been authorized to inquire into
the various questions ut issue. and To
eudeavor to bring about Il settlement.
Both the consul and paSha on my
arrival offered me hospitality, which |
declined under the peculiar cireum-
stances in which | was placed by my
mission.
The day after my arrival the pasha
summoned divan of several local
notaheS, who were to give evidence,
and the consul was also requested to at
tend When | entered the divan, being
then youth of about twenty-SiN, was
much shocked ut seeing the paSha, con-
sui and other notableS with white and
hoary boards and venerable appear
auCe. upon whom | had, as it were, to
sit in Judgment. After pipes and coffee,
the hearing of the various subjects in
dispute commenced.
Though refer 10 this scene, as 1t af-
fectS the end of my tale, it is needless to
relate what passed, further than to men
tion that found both pasha and coun-
sci were in the wrong, but that neither
had acted in a manner to require any
severe cenSure on the part of the porte
or ambassador, and | drew up a report
III that sense, On my return journey to
the port having heard that game was
plentiful. | gave my horse to the Greek
(servantl to lead, and wandered over the
country. | had good sport, and the
Greek frequently warned me that unless
we kept to the beaten path and rode on
quickly, we should not be able To reach
the port before dark.
| continued, however, to shoot. wan
dering into thickets after game many
miles distant from the road, or
rather track, until it became SO dark
that could no longer see the birds rise.
On remounting told the Greek to lead
the way, but he declined; he knew not
where we were, nor even what direction
to take. 1t was n bright, clear night,
and at a distance of about two miles |
espied light: thither | decided to
direct our steps, and to ask for shelter
for the night. or for guide.
We arrived ut a large building. with
lattice windows several feet from the
ground. surrounded by a high wall in
closing what appeared to be farm
buildings, with Il large double gate,
where carts and cattle could pass.
After knocking loudly an old Turk
appeared. spoke Turkish tiucntly at
that time. so told him was an English
traveller and had lost my way, and
begged to have shelter for the night any
where in the farmyard. feed for my
horses. and some bread and coffee. if
nothing else i'm the way of food was pro
durable, for myself and servant. for we
were very hungry.
The Turk replied that his master was
- Bpy, who had formerly been in the
service of the porte: that he was
landed proprietor; that as his family
dwplt with him no man could be admit
ted To the house. but he offered to ask
the bey'S permission to allow us to pass
the night in one of the out-houSeS. and
to put up our horses.
The gate was again closed and after
waiting Il few minutes, a Turkish gen
teman. dressed in handsome fur
pelisse and fez, appeared. After the
usual Salutations, he said: Are You an
Englishman?" | replied that / was.
without making myself known as one of
the secretaries of the British embassy.
lie babe me welcome i'm a hearty man
ner. and turning to the old man who
had Just opened the gate. directed that
my attendant should he lodged in a
room in the farm buildings, he given
whatever he might require, and that the
horses should be stalled and fed.
Then, taking me to the door of his
house and opening it with large KEY.
he stopped on the threshold and said:
You are All English gentleman and
therefore man of honor. / am about
TO do that which no Mohametan will or
ought to do. / admit you to my harem
among MY family. | have heard how.
English gentlemen visit the houses of
friends and live as men of honor with
their families, without restraint | shall
do the same, for have special reasons
for my conduct, which | will relate
when you have rested II is my earnest
hope that you should feel as if hDu were
with one of your own cOuntrymen; but
] beg you to keep secret from every one
your visit to my house, and never to
mention whom you may see within it,
lie then led me to Il narrow staircase
into a well-lighted room, handsomely
furnished with beautiful carpeting.
comfortable divans, mirrors, Turkish
tables. arms hung on the walls and
couch with pretty embroidered cushions
and silk quilt, which he said was to be
my bed.
Again and again he babe me welcome.
adding: II shall leave you TO repose;
you must be hungry. Supper is or
dered A pipe and coffee will be
brought to you, order what you please"
then as he withdrew he repeated again
in a kind manner, IAN English Effendi
is always man of honor"
While inspecting the room and wonder
ing what all this meant, | heard q gentle
step, and Il tall. graceful figure of girl
about seventeen, entered. She was
dressed handsomely in a jacket used by
Turkish ladies. with bodice open i'm
front, like unto the square dresses now
worn by English ladies of an evening.
She had on yellow silk ''shalvas," or
trousers, fastened by white muslin
sash. the ends of which were prettily
embroidered and hung outside the
''shaivas." Her complexion was olive,
with very large dark eyes and long eve
I'M Il